Tag: Academy of Art University

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Academy of Art University Announces New Sports Medicine Staff

Article reposted from Academy of Art University
Author: Academy of Art University

Following the departure of longtime head athletic trainer Karmont Mak, Academy of Art University has officially announced the hiring of three full-time staff members in Laz Cardenas, Kevin Williams, and Katie Straughn. Cardenas will serve as the new head athletic trainer while Williams and Straughn have both been elevated to assistant athletic trainers.

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Cardenas moves into his seventh year with Academy of Art Athletics this fall, taking on the new position after previously working as an assistant athletic trainer since 2010. Over that time, he worked closely with Mak to develop the ART U Sports Medicine department into a four-person staff that services over 200 athletes from the Knights’ 16 sports teams.

“I feel very grateful to have been given the opportunity to become head athletic trainer at Academy of Art,” said Cardenas. “It’s extremely exciting to have Kevin and Katie hired on as it will provide us more widespread coverage when caring for our athletes.”

Cardenas is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a certified Performance Enhancement Specialist by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

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Williams, who finished his second season as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with Academy of Art this past spring, recently received his Master of Arts in Athletic Training from the San Jose State University. With the Urban Knights over the past two years, Williams has served as the trainer for men’s soccer and softball while assisting with all 16 sports. His familiarity with the PacWest Conference dates back to 2011-2014 when he was an athletic training student at Point Loma.

Williams is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and American Heart Association CPR/AED certified.

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Straughn, who is currently part of the same Graduate Athletic Training Program at San Jose State University, recently wrapped up her first season as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the Urban Knights. A 2015 graduate from Oregon State, Straughn worked with ART U women’s soccer and baseball in addition to helping with all 16 sports.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue working with Academy of Art,” said Straughn. “The Sports Medicine department has always felt like a family and it is great to have the chance to expand my time with the department past next year. Even though our roles will not change too much, I am excited to take on more of an administrative role.”

Straughn is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and American Heart Association First Aid and CPR certified.

Cardenas, Williams, and Straughn begin in their new roles effective this week.

“I think the main goal for our Sports Medicine department is to continue to help keep our student-athletes healthy and safe,” said Straughn. “With three full-time staff members, we will better be able to manage our hours in the athletic training room and expand our knowledge on different techniques.”

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Academy of Art University Graduate assistants work with 49ers

As the country’s spirits rise with the return of football season, Academy of Art University graduate assistant athletic trainers Jessica Reinhart and Kevin Williams are closer than any to the action. Both are currently serving as summer athletic training interns for the San Francisco 49ers in Levi’s Stadium for the entire preseason after a year of dedicated work with the Urban Knights.

“I’m most excited about being the first female athletic training intern that has worked with the 49ers,” said Reinhart. “I want to show them that females can successfully work in this type of setting and I want to pave the way for more females to have this same amazing opportunity.”

“I have only worked in high school and college settings so I’m excited about learning what it is like to work as an athletic trainer at the professional level,” said Williams. “Also, this camp is giving me a great opportunity to network and meet other athletic trainers in the Bay Area.”

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The opportunity for Reinhart and Williams can be traced back to none other than Academy of Art University head athletic trainer Karmont Mak. Prior to joining ART U back in 2009, Mak was wrapping up his second internship with the 49ers and remains close with the team’s sports medicine staff.

“I am extremely proud of both Jess and Kevin on earning the summer internships with the 49ers,” said Mak. “The opportunity to work at the highest level of athletics will allow them to gain valuable experience and help them continue to develop as athletic trainers. Their hard work, dedication, and passion for the athletic training profession was seen everyday working with our student-athletes. I’m hoping they learn some new tricks at the pro level and be able to apply those with our student-athletes to not only keep them healthy but get them back faster.”
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Both assistants express tremendous appreciation for the role he played in this chance to taste the professional ranks.

“This great opportunity would not have been possible without Karmont’s help,” said Williams. “His valuable recommendation did more than help me get this internship; it also gave me confidence as I progress in my career as an athletic trainer.”

Among the various responsibilities of both Reinhart and Williams during the grueling 30+ days of camp are working with all the players in the training room, assisting with practice and game coverage, as well as working through the athletes’ treatment and rehabilitations. From ensuring the team is hydrated and properly taped to getting the players treated and prepped for practice and games on the sidelines of pre-season contests, the role essentially replicates all aspects of the professional staff.

Embracing their expectation to start each day at 6:30 a.m. inside Levi’s Stadium and handle their business in a professional manner, the tandem of Reinhart and Williams both find themselves relying upon their experience with Mak and assistant athletic trainer Laz Cardenas at Academy of Art over the past two years. Williams, who completed his athletic training degree at Point Loma in 2014, spent this past season as the primary trainer for ART U men’s soccer and softball. Reinhart, a 2013 graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, completed her second season with the Urban Knights in 2014-15, handling women’s soccer and baseball.

“Karmont and Laz have definitely prepared me for this internship over my past two years at Academy of Art,” said Reinhart. “They stressed professionalism and especially attention to detail. No matter what task you are performing, having attention to detail is key. It shows that you care and are working hard to get the job done well the first time. This has definitely helped me while working with the 49ers.”

The 49ers look ahead to their first preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Houston Texans’ NRG Stadium.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://artuathletics.com/news/2015/8/12/Sports_Med_49ers_0812152820.aspx